Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Why Did You Call Me Out Today? -1
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"Haa..."
Seo Yerim finally seemed satisfied, letting out a lewd sigh as she parted her lips.
...How long did we go at it?
My lips, the inside of my mouth—everything was slick.
It felt like she was still lingering there.
I'd thought it was just a brief moment while we were lost in it, but now that we were apart...
I realized we'd savored each other far longer than I'd imagined.
She must have felt the same haze, sitting there blankly with a dreamy expression.
"...Yerim, want something to drink? I'll grab it."
"Yeah, thanks..."
My throat was parched anyway, and it'd give us both time to cool off, so she nodded shyly.
With her okay, I opened the door and stepped into the living room.
—Feels so damn refreshing.
The room with Yerim had been stifling hot, but out here it was like a whole different world.
"What, done studying already?"
Seo Jinhyuk, lounging in the living room, spotted me and spoke up.
......If only you weren't here.
Suddenly, I remembered what Yerim had said earlier—her brother was home, so no.
Of course, I hadn't really expected or even thought about that sort of thing? But somehow, blaming it on this guy left me feeling a little hard done by.
I walked over to where Jinhyuk was lying and prodded him lightly with my foot in petty revenge.
"What the hell, you psycho."
"That's why I'm acting crazy, duh."
"You're seriously nuts, man?"
Jinhyuk stared at me like I was unbelievable, then his face shifted to concern.
"You okay? Feeling sick or something? Your face is beet red."
"...Is my face really that red right now?"
"It's glowing like a ripe persimmon. Don't tell me you're gonna give my sister your cold or whatever."
...Your sister was just making out with me like crazy, that's why.
I couldn't exactly say that, though—
Stuck without a good response, Jinhyuk sighed like he couldn't deal with me and got up.
"Here, take some cold medicine and go home to rest. I get you two wanna hang out, but this ain't it, dude."
...It's not a cold, dude.
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The next day at lunch, after Jinhyuk had actually shoved cold meds at me and kicked me out.
Even at school, I kept replaying the kiss with Yerim in my head, grinning like an idiot without realizing it.
...I wanna do it again.
Her soft lips, her sweet scent—every sensation from that moment.
It was more than enough to turn me into a fool.
"Yo, what's up with Han Woojin today?"
"Dunno, he's been in a good mood all day. It's annoying."
"...What's there to be annoyed about?"
They could tell from my face, apparently. Yoon Do-hyun and Jinhyuk were picking on me for no reason, and I just stared in disbelief.
"Nah, you gotta see it yourself. It's like his forehead says 'I'm happy.' Makes me wanna deck him."
"If I was stronger, I'd have clocked him already. Admit it?"
"Hell yeah."
"I'll deck you two first. Get over here."
Which hole are those mouths connected to anyway?
I jumped up to punish the two shit-talkers, but they snickered and bolted away fast.
"No, seriously—who said I'm happy alone? Spread the joy a bit."
"With Han Woojin? Obvious. 100% something with his girlfriend. Bet they made out."
Yoon Do-hyun's casual bullseye made me flinch without thinking.
But Jinhyuk missed it and smacked his shoulder. "Don't talk crap. Why drag my sister into it?"
"Then who else, you psycho."
"Hey, Woojin, say something..."
"…………"
"Wait. Hold up... Dude, yesterday... your face was bright red...?"
As I stayed silent, Jinhyuk muttered with his head down, piecing it together.
Then he looked up at me with a devastated expression.
".........No way, right...?"
"........."
"...Say something, Woojin. Tell me it's not. You had a cold, right...?"
"......I was totally fine yesterday."
"You motherfucker, I was wide-eyed at home waiting!!!!!!"
"Gah, hold—on!"
Jinhyuk grabbed my collar and shook me like he was possessed, making it hard to breathe, but I couldn't push him off.
I'd done the same to him before.
As I paid my karmic debt, Yerim and Han Sea opened the classroom door and walked in.
"...Oppa Jinhyuk, what're you doing?"
"You two fighting~?"
"Yerim, this jerk...!"
Jinhyuk opened his mouth like he'd finally caught me, and I wondered if he was really gonna say it.
But he snapped out of it, clamping his mouth shut.
"What?"
"......Nothing."
"And don't call my oppa a jerk."
"Aren't I your oppa too, sis...?"
Jinhyuk mumbled a timid protest with slumped shoulders, but Yerim huffed dismissively and hugged my arm.
"Let's go, oppa..."
"...Yeah, coming."
The stark contrast had Jinhyuk glaring daggers at my back, prickling my neck.
Whatever. What're you gonna do?
I turned, flashed a grin, and strolled out of the classroom.
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Heading to the cafeteria with Yerim.
I flinched without thinking.
She did too, spotting us.
...It's been a while since the first day of school—Lee Yuri. Should I say hi?
But with Yerim right there, it felt off, so I pretended not to notice and looked away. She did the same.
We passed each other.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief—
"...Oppa."
"Hm?"
"Was that the noona you mentioned before...?"
"............Huh?"
"I think you said her name was Lee Yuri once..."
...What's with that memory? Jinhyuk was Detective Seo earlier; now it's sibling tag-team detectives? I choked up.
She remembered a name from two years ago perfectly. I swallowed hard.
"...Yeah. How'd you know?"
"You flinched the second you saw her. How could I not notice...?"
"...Was it that obvious?"
"Kinda, but not obvious... more like..."
She's not checking every name tag passing by.
How'd she figure it out? Yerim squeezed my arm tighter, like you're the culprit.
"It's about you, oppa..."
Like she was saying, it's you, duh.
Yerim looked up with a playful smile.
...I can't win against that.
I surrendered completely to her grin.
"...Yeah, that was the Lee Yuri I told you about."
"Why pretend you didn't see her...?"
"Just... feels weird to act like we know each other now."
After cutting her off cold, now that Yerim's back, let's be friends again? It was shameless—even a slap from Yuri wouldn't be undeserved.
And Yuri wasn't an ex or anything—just a fleeting friend.
But admitting it felt awkward in front of Yerim, so I gave a half-truth.
It seemed enough; Yerim tapped her finger to her lips, humming thoughtfully for a bit.
Then she changed the subject.
...Phew.
I'd thought I was busted for ignoring her, but Yerim acted like it was nothing. Relief washed over me, and I sighed softly.
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......Why am I even here?
Sitting in a café with Han Woojin's girlfriend, that thought hit me.
After class, with rain suddenly pouring, I'd been packing up humming about heading home to rest.
Then the classroom buzzed, and a friend rushed over saying someone was calling for me.
...Who?
Feeling every curious stare from guys and girls alike, I headed to the back door—and instantly got why they were freaking out.
A doll-like girl was standing there.
...The one arm-in-arm with Woojin earlier?
Flustered, I asked why. When she asked if I had time today, I blurted yes without thinking.
And now here we were.
...Definitely his girlfriend, right?
A girl he'd link arms with? After ghosting me sharp back then? Had to be.
Another thought crossed my mind.
—Jerk. Who knew the lovebird was such a softie?
She looked stunning even just sipping a latte.
...I'd never thought I'd lose a beauty contest anywhere.
But against her? No contest.
Ask a hundred guys, ninety would pick her.
...The ten are my last shred of pride.
Anyway.
—Why'd she want to meet me alone?
I figured Woojin would be there too at first, but we came here just us.
On the way, here now—no clue.
She gonna warn me to stay away from her boyfriend like in some drama...?
Hah, not gonna splash water on me or anything, right?
Should I brace to block her now?
But... we barely talked even two years ago.
Conversation needs both sides, right?
That jerk just went "uh," "yeah," "sure"—the unbreakable trio. No real talk possible.
I couldn't guess, so I finally spoke up.
"So. Why did you call me out today?"